You might be interested in some hot water for your bathroom and kitchen needs, right? It’s time to learn about water heaters and more.

One water heater fits a tiny house. (Suburban Manufacturing)

Water heater needs

For houses on wheels, we suggest a 10 gallon minimum, tankless and on-demand water heater because it fits the limited space and supplies two showers before re-heating again. In slightly larger houses, consider installing a 12 or 16 gallon model for a little more hot water capacity.

One standard bearer, Suburban, works with propane or electricity and offers a safer, direct spark vs. pilot option. Once the hot water is depleted, it recovers at 10.2 gallons per hour which the maker claims as “fastest in the industry.”

The Suburban unit and cover seem to be sold everywhere. We would be remiss in not mentioning other popular makers, including Atwood and Girard, for comparison shopping.

Water in, water out

In — A small, legal home on a foundation usually connects into the property’s on-grid municipal water service or independent well. A house on wheels taps into these sources via a pressurized garden hose or may fill its fresh water holding tank anywhere. (Off-grid water deserves a separate post.)

Out — When plugged into a property’s sewage or septic system, the used grey water follows the same lines as toilet/black water. Otherwise grey water may get released immediately to nearby, agreed-upon grounds. Mobile tinies may also install a grey water tank, later emptied at an RV disposal or other site.

Our take? With planning, hot and cold water are a reality for your little home.

By aiming to go tiny or small, you will need to consider what matters in the kitchen. Start by focusing on layout, appliances, counters, storage and finishes. See some of the decisions and choices here.

The Galleys

Modern galley with wood cabinetry and stainless steel. Appliances include a fridge-freezer, range top, microwave and dishwasher. It lacks counter space and an oven. (Karen’s Cottage)

Sleek galley in a studio. Appliances include a standalone fridge-freezer to the right (unseen), range top and dishwasher. It has limited counter space and no oven. (Smart Space)

Custom, mission-style galley. Appliances include a range top and standalone fridge-freezer to the left (unseen). It lacks counter space, a dishwasher and an oven. (Ron Czecholinski)

The Little L Kitchens

Little L with nice butcher block counters and storage. Appliances include a range top and small fridge-freezer. It lacks an oven here (possible) and dishwasher. (Tumbleweed Linden)

Country Little L with custom wood slab counter and cabinets. Appliances include a marine stove top and small fridge under house. It doesn’t have an oven or dishwasher. (Little Yellow)

Hip Little L with a plywood and metal look. Appliances include a flip-up range top, oven and little fridge. It lacks a dishwasher. (Yestermorrow, Relax Shacks)

The Big Kitchens

True U-shaped kitchen with space galore. Appliances include a full gas range, oven, microwave and big fridge-freezer to the left (unseen). It doesn’t have a dishwasher. (Springs Cottage)

Two galley, dream kitchen. Appliances include a large gas range, oven, microwave and big fridge-freezer. With a little more space, there’s room for everything. (Poppy’s Place)

Celebrate small and tiny interiors in Apartment Therapy’s recent Small Cool contest. With the interior focus, standalone houses participated and mixed among apartment cousins.

We pored over contest entries and found five stellar standalones. Check out their sweet great rooms and kitchens, below.

One Small House: 801-999 sq. ft.

Lauren’s 923 sq. ft. home is located in Charlottesville, VA. She loves her cozy cottage, which is “furnished mostly with vintage pieces and objects I’ve found in my travels. It makes my home feel very personal.” (Lauren, Apartment Therapy)

Lauren appreciates an old-fashioned, separate living room and kitchen because they are “very generously sized given the size of the house, and there is an astounding amount of storage.” (Lauren, Apartment Therapy)

Another Small House: 801-999 sq. ft.

Emily’s 900 sq. ft. home is located in Covington, KY. “What I love about my small home,” she declares, “is that it’s, well, home.” Emily learned to decorate as well as use a saw here. (Emily, Apartment Therapy)

Emily has an eat-in kitchen, giving it style with cool yellow chairs and bare tree limb walls. We aren’t surprised this home made the top four finalists in the Small Cool 2014 contest. (Emily, Apartment Therapy)

One Little House: 601-800 sq. ft.

Cristin and Zach’s 676 sq. ft. home is located in Kirkwood, MO. “We’ve really made sure that our home is family friendly and that we all feel comfortable living life here,” says Cristin. (Cristin and Zach, Apartment Therapy)

Cristin and Zach’s kitchen fits right into their bungalow, and is important because they have a young child at home. We like the bright and light feel here. (Cristin and Zach, Apartment Therapy)

One Tiny House: 401-600 sq. ft.

Patricia’s 500 sq. ft. home is located in N. Topsail Beach, NC. Coverted from a 1907 residential auto garage, she decorated with “elegant and primitive designs” to fit her Victorian home and neighborhood. (Patricia, Apartment Therapy)

Patricia says she likes “to divide the space into actual rooms, using every inch for storage.” Her kitchen is well-equipped with a range and stove, microwave, full sink and separate counter space. (Patricia, Apartment Therapy)

One Teeny Tiny: Under 400 sq. ft.

Adele’s 240 sq. ft. home is located in Oakland, CA. “Even though my cottage is tiny,” says Adele, “it has high ceilings and it’s surrounded by huge windows, so it doesn’t feel too small.” (Adele, Apartment Therapy)

Adele keeps her great room quite open, with the kitchen in the back of her home. “I’ve figured out a place for each of my belongings to live, so the whole space can feel as open as possible.” (Adele, Apartment Therapy)

We’ll take a hidden kitchen, any day. Years ago, kitchens started hiding some appliances within cabinetry before changing their minds and flaunting stainless steel.

Hidden kitchens then became smart space savers. Today any cabinetry may get placed along a single wall and house a sink, microwave, oven, fridge and storage. For inspiration, here are some urbane and glossy examples.

Before and after shots of the stealth kitchen reveal a lot of space beyond appliances and basics. (Resource Furniture)

In six feet, a mini-kitchen could be installed without the whole wall unit. (Resource Furniture)

Kitchen is closed and then opened in four sections. Everything is present in red glossy glory. (Yo! Home)

You know those beautiful tin ceilings in historic places? Tin could make a real statement in your tiny house, especially as a kitchen backsplash. It’s time to reveal your authentic Camelot or other cherished style.

We discovered Metal Ceiling Express, a Florida company that stamps, colors and sells all their own tin. Among the near-bewildering selection of designs and treatments, focus on smaller scale patterns to match your kitchen.

Most of the cabinets in a small or tiny house are located in the kitchen. While it’s fine to use standard or elegant drawer knobs, we suggest searching a bit harder for your cabinet jewelry. Here are knobs and pulls that deserve a “12” rating on a 1-10 whimsy scale.

Take a close look at this pewter cabinet knob, which is an artistic, sculptural buffalo. (Black Forest Decor)

Picasso-like drawer pulls and knobs seem extraordinary. They are made with dichroic glass. (Uneek Glass Fusions)